Boneless corset.



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coLuMR PLANnunAPn CO. WASMINGTON. n. e.

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MARY I-I. GIFFORD, F \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BONELESS CORSET.

LGSSJZL Application filed November 21, 1912.

To 117. 7!.7'01/2 it may concern Be it known that I, MARY H. Grrrono, a citizen of the United States. residing at ll'orcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts. have invented a new and useful Boneless Corset, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a boneless corset of nonelastic material.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a corset of this character which shall be capable of fitting perfectly without the use of elastic material and which can be made entirely without bones; also to provide a corset for these purposes which can be made of comparatively small pieces of inexpensive non-elastic material, thus materially reducing the expense.

The invention also involves improvements in details of construction for the purposes of securing these results and especially so arranging the parts as to secure a perfect fitting construction.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a corset constructed in accordance with this invention in position; and Fig. 2 is a side view of half a corset spread out fiat.

It is well known in this art that boneless corsets can be made to fit properly if constructed of tricot or other elastic material which will conform to the shape of the body. This, however, is expensive material to use and on account of its loose weave it is expensive to handle and presents certain difficulties in making seams and connecting it with the steels. The cutting of the material diagonally across the weave also involves considerable trouble in manufacture as will be understood readily by persons skilled in the art. This invention is designed for the purpose of avoiding these difficulties and ex penses, and to permit the use of inexpensive non-elastic material in comparatively small pieces in a boneless fitting corset.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that each half of the corset is made up with the usual front steel and back steels 11, between the latter of which the usual eyelets 12 are shown. Extending from the back steels to the front steel at the top is a top piece 13 made of non-elastic material, preferably coutil or batiste, practically incapable of stretching. It is woven closely and firmly so that it is easily handled in manu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27,1914.

Serial No. 732,620.

facture, and when it is cut across the weave the edges can be bound without trouble. .\ny other material having these properties also can be used. This top part in the present style of corset is lower at the front than at the back. and is provided with a bust gore 11 preferably of the same material or equivalent thereof, extending nearly to the bottom of this top part. At the rear also is a back gore 15 extending from the top down sub stantially to the same level as the front gore. Just below the bottoms of these gores is a waist line seam 16 by which the top part is secured to the skirt portion. The skirt portion consists in the present case of two members 17 and 18 formed of the same or similar material, and united by an inclined seam 19 extending up from the bottom of the corset to the waist line seam. The corset illustrated is provided with a side steel 20 extending substantially from the top of the upper part through the waist line seam and down into the skirt portion, terminating preferably at a distance from the bottom of the corset, but it will be understood that said steel is not absolutely essential. This side steel conveniently comes into a position in which the seam 19 crosses it at the top, that seam being slightly inclined preferably. It will be seen that the two members of the skirt part of the corset being connected by a seam of this kind can be designed to give the desired fullness at the hips and secure the necessary fit at the waist without the use of gores or elastic portions of any kind. The top part, being in one piece and provided with the gores specified, also permits the fitting of that part accurately and without the use of elastic portions. The two gores in each section are located on opposite sides of the side steel, and the rear one occupies most of the space between the side steel and the back steels. In this way it will be seen that the two parts of the top portion on opposite sides of the side steel are fitted independently of each other by means of the two gores and the location of the waist line seam.

A corset constructed in this way has many advantages. It entirely does away with the usual bones, eliminates the necessity of using expensive elastic material in large pieces. permits the utilization of small pieces of comparatively inexpensive material, even pieces which are left over from other manufactures, provides a corset which can be washed, and which is extremely durable, one which does not stretch, and consequently cannot get out of shape by ordinary wear, and it especially provides a construction which is capable of being made to fit without the use either of bones or elastic material. Such a corset is capable of general use, but is especially valuable for misses and girls.

A feature of importance lies in so cutting and connecting the top part and the skirt that the seam at the waist line will consist of but two plies of the fabric, (formed by overlapping the upper and lower members), thus insuring a smooth close fit at the waist. To accomplish this it will be seen that the gores terminate at points above the seam. It is true that where the upper ends of the skirt seams 19 meet the waist seam there are more than two plies but this area is so slight as to be negligible. A further feature of importance is that I am enabled by my construction to make the skirt part of each half of but two pieces of fabric and at the same time obtain the necessary hip fullness, this being accomplished by seaming these two parts together on an oblique line running from the waist to the bottom edge, this seam being preferably inclined forwardly so as to bring the fullness forward sufiiciently to nicely fit the hip.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form in which this corset is made, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, but

What I do claim. is

As an article of manufacture, a corset consisting of two halves, each half consisting of a top part of non-elastic material extending from the front steel to the back steel in a single piece, and a bottom or skirt part of non-elastic fabric, said two parts being fastened together by a seam at the waist line, said lower or skirt part consisting of two pieces of fabric seamed together by a seam running from said waist line seam obliquely downwardly and forwardly to the lower edge of the skirt part, said top part being provided with two gores extending from the upper edge thereof to a point above said waist line seam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARY H. GIFFORD.

Witnesses ALBERT E. FAY, C. FORREST WEssoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

